Guidelines for Using the Article Analysis Matrix Form The Article Analysis Form provides columns you

can use to make notes about the articles youre reading. Columns for taking basic notes about each article you read are provided first. Following those columns are columns for noting higher order observations about each article and articles in relation to each other. A description of each column follows. Article Title and Source JournalThis is self-explanatory. List the name of the article title youre reading and the name of the source journal. Also include the edition, index, and page numbers or web address of the article. AuthorList the full names of each of the authors of the article. Study Type/Article TypeIf the article is a summary of a study, then indicate what type of study it wasquantitative, qualitative, experimental, quasi-experimental, exploratory, or meta-analysis, among possibilities. Also include the main topic. Theoretical FrameworkIn this column, indicate which theorists or theories are used as the basis for the study or the article by the author. Questions/HypothesesWhat qualitative questions was the researcher exploring, or what quantitative hypotheses was the researcher investigating? Place that information in this column. This column does not apply to meta-analysis or non-study articles. MethodologyWhat methodology did the researcher use? Was it ethnographic, case study, heuristic, or one of the other possibilities? Place that information in this column. This column does not apply to meta-analysis or non-study articles. SampleWhat is the size of the sample? What are the characteristics of the sample? How was it selectedrandom, focused, or a combination? What is its potential generalizability or transferability, and what are the limitations of that generalizability or transferability based on its composition? Place that information in this column. This column does not apply to meta-analysis or non-study articles. AnalysisWhat is the analysis of the data gathered in the study that was developed by the author? Place that information in this column. ConclusionsWhat conclusions did the author draw based on the analysis? Place that information in this column. Your Analysis of Article Points and Article TotalReview the information in this chart and any other observations you have made about the article or articles you have read. What strengths did you see in the article based on the information gathered in this chart and other observations? What weaknesses or areas that need further research did you see? Place that information in this column.

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Comparison of ArticlesBased on your research and the information in this chart, list comparison points youve identified in this column on a line near one or the other of the articles youre comparing. Contrast of ArticlesIn this column, place any contrast of the articles youve read in a line near one or the other of the articles. Evaluation Topic and Article Relation to Evaluation TopicList the evaluation topic youre using as a criterion here, as well as how each article relates to the evaluation topic. You can reproduce this column in your matrix as many times as necessary to consider whatever topics youre evaluating. SynthesisIn this column, develop an explanation of how the articles each fit into a synthesis created from your research, if they do. IntegrationIn this column, develop an explanation of how the articles each fit into an integration created from your research, if they do. ConclusionsIn this column, develop an explanation of the conclusions you are drawing about your questions or hypotheses based on your research. IntroductionIn this column, list the points you feel are important to set the stage for your research in the introduction. SummaryIn this column, list the points important to mention in the summary (conclusion) section of your literature review.

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